IRS: Frequent data breaches make it more difficult to verify taxpayers

Federal News Radio: The IRS fights to stay at least one step ahead of the fraudsters that use stolen taxpayer credentials to file tax returns. But the frequency of data breaches, both in and out of the government, gives its adversaries more ammunition.

“The proliferation of personally identifiable information that is out in the ecosystem makes it fundamentally more difficult to authenticate an individual,” Edward Killen, the IRS’ chief privacy officer, told members of the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.

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